Discover China's star attractions from the imperial cities of the north to the karst-studded landscapes of the south with pandas, temples and giant buddhas thrown in for good measure.Plan your tailor-made holiday

Plan your Chinese adventure with our handy resources that cover everything from health and money to visas and when best to visit. Discover the top spots worth visiting, make the most of your visit to the Great Wall and see where's best to meet China's black and white emblem - the giant panda.View Our Travel Guide

SEMI INDEPENDENT TOUR: Discover China’s ancient and reinvented culture. Marvel at the iconic cityscape in Hong Kong and karst landscape of Yangshuo, get up close to China’s national icon in Chengdu’s Panda Breeding and Research Centre, walk among the Terracotta Warrior army in Xi’an and through the ultra-modern capital Beijing.

Itinerary

Hong Kong – Yanghsuo. Welcome to China. Arrive into Hong Kong International Airport and independently travel by public transport into the Yess Inn @ Tau Ma Tei Hostel where you will be met by your tour leader and the rest of the group. We then travel to Victoria Peak for spectacular views of the cityscape and harbour. Return to the hostel to collect our bags before independently boarding our first bullet train to Guilin (3 hours), where meet our new tour leader and transfer to our hostel in Yangshuo for an evening at leisure.

Please note: The meeting time at the hostel is 7am Overnight: Yangshuo

Yangshuo, set on the banks of the Li River, home to karst limestone peaks and emerald waters, is ours to explore for the next few days. On arrival we are met by our new trip leader and make our way to the hostel for an afternoon to explore Yangshuo at leisure or perhaps partake in some of the optional activities; kayak down the Li River or for those looking to unwind there is the option to enjoy some traditional Chinese therapies, such as hot cupping. This evening wander down West Street or witness the spellbinding sound and light show Impression Liu Sanjie, a must see in Yangshuo!

On day 3 we begin exploring this stunning landscape with a bike tour passing spectacular scenes of rural life; farmers tending rice paddies, village people washing their clothes in the river and fisherman meandering downstream on their bamboo rafts. We reach the Yulong river, a tributary of the Li River where we have the opportunity to glide down the silky water on our very own traditional bamboo rafts, passing ancient bridges and villages on the river, the perfect photo opportunity. The rest of the afternoon and next day are at leisure to relax; try your hand at cooking some traditional Chinese cuisine, travel to the famous Moon Hill and caves for a dip in the mud baths and hot springs, enjoy deep water soloing or rock climbing on the limestone peaks, or visit your leaders home village for a truly authentic experience showcasing rural life in China. Whatever you decide to do, you will not be disappointed
Overnight: Yangshuo

Yangshuo – Chengdu. Spend our final morning in Yangshuo at leisure before boarding the bus to Guilin where we bid farewell to our leader and board the night train to Chengdu (approx 7 hours). Overnight: Sleeper Train

Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province and home to the world-famous Giant Panda Research & Breeding Centre, created to protect and breed this once endangered animal, imitating the panda’s natural habitat so that they might have the best possible environment for breeding and rearing. We arrive just in time to witness these fury creatures tuck into breakfast and have the chance to wander through the grounds. Be sure to visit the nursery to see the new born pandas and look out for the other endangered animals housed here such as the red panda, black-necked cranes and much more. This afternoon our leader gives us a basic Mandarin lesson, before arriving back to the hostel for an evening at leisure. For those looking for some evening entertainment, there is an optional traditional Sichuan Opera on offer tonight.

Day 7 is at leisure to meander around Chengdu or participate in some of the optional activities on offer. Visit Leshan and marvel at the world’s largest stone Buddha, which took over 90 years to carve, or sample the famous Sichuan hot pot. This evening sample the city’s buzzing nightlife scene!
Overnight: Chengdu

Chengdu – Xi’an. We spend one final morning in Chengdu to visit any last-minute sites we have missed. Visit Wenshu monastery, the Sichuan Province museum or visit a traditional Chinese tea house before saying goodbye to our Sichuanese leader and board the night train to Xi’an! Overnight: Sleeper Train

On arrival to Xi’an we are greeted by our new leader and board the bus to our hoste to check-in and freshen up or participate in some of the optional excursions. Bike ride along the Ming Dynasty ancient wall that divides the city, explore the Bell-drum towers, wander through the Muslim quarter to see unique Chinese mosques and learn about the history of the Silk Road. For dinner we recommend the local street food in the Muslim quarter, the lamb skewers are a must!

On the morning of day 10, we visit the jewel of Xi’an – The Terracotta Warriors. The army was made to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang in the afterlife after he unified China for this first time in history. Take time to walk through this impressive army and museum which has been built on top of the emperor’s underground palace and burial site. This evening there is the option to give back to the community with a visit to the Star Sun Home, a local charity in the heart of the Muslim district, which provides care and education to children with mental illness.
Overnight: Xi'an

Xi’an – Shaolin. Today we leave Xi’an behind and board the bus to Shaolin (approx. 7 hours). On arrival we make our way to our family run guest house, located a stone’s throw away from the Shaolin temple. This afternoon there is an optional Kung Fu lesson and show at a local children’s home run by a master from the Shaolin Temple. We dine together at the guesthouse (at your own expense), and for dessert, we have our second Mandarin lesson!Overnight: Dengfeng

Shaolin – Beijing. Rise and shine early this morning for an optional visit to The Shaolin Temple, the flagship of Kung Fu, to admire the masters practicing physically impossible moves in the courtyard. We then hike to Dharma cave, located on Elephant Trunk Mountain and dedicated to Dharma who became a Buddha after 10 years of meditation in the cave, and are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding shrines and landscapes. Return to the guesthouse for a late lunch (at your own expense) before we check out and board our night train to Beijing (approx. 10 hours). Overnight: Sleeper Train

We arrive into Beijing bright and early this morning, where we’re greeted by our new leader and take a bus to the Great Wall stopping at a local farming village for lunch (at your own expense). Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes as we will be hiking on un-restored sections of the wall, where we’ll have the place to ourselves, as we watch the sun set on this Wonder of the World and enjoy another Mandarin lesson with our leader.

Please note: Due to cold weather bookings made before the end of April and after the end of September will be staying in a guesthouse near the Wall but will return to the Wall to watch the sun rise.
Overnight: Camping on Great Wall

We have an early start this morning as we wake up bright and early to witness the sun rise along the Great Wall, a completely unforgettable experience. We then return to Beijing where we have the rest of the day to enjoy this amazing city. In the afternoon there is an optional excursion to the fake goods market and use your haggling skills to buy souvenirs for your friends and family. Perhaps taste Beijing’s signature dish of Peking Roast Duck before witnessing a stunning acrobatics performance this evening.Overnight: Beijing

Today is our final day in the Chinese capital and is ours to explore as we see fit. Take a walk-through Tiananmen Square, visit the Forbidden city, the once imperial palace of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. For a bird’s eye view of the Forbidden city, Temple of heaven and Tiananmen Square head to Jingshan Park. There is also an optional visit to Nanluo district, one of the best-preserved historical areas in Beijing, famous for its hutongs and siheyan courtyards as well as an array of bars and cafes. This evening we board our night train to Shenzhen (approx 22 hours). Overnight: Sleeper Train

We arrive into Hong Kong via Shenzhen in the evening where our tour ends. Transfers to the airport or additional nights accommodation in Hong Kong can be arranged on request for an additional fee.

Is this holiday for you?

If you’re the kind of traveller that doesn’t mind time spent travelling independently on public transport and sharing a mixed dorm room with other travellers, then this trip will suit you just fine. There’s plenty of free time on this tour so it’s a great option if you like to explore a city at your own leisure.

Prices & Dates

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling based on mixed dormitory rooms. Room upgrades are always subject to availability, please see prices listed at the bottom of this page. When booking online, room upgrades are on a request basis only and will be confirmed by our reservations team via email. Alternatively, enquire with our team for room upgrade availability. 'Twin/Double room upgrade' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single room upgrade' applies for single travellers wanting their own room. These upgrade costs need to be added to the 'Dormitory' price.

Quick Links

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time. Conditions apply.

On our Essentials range, we’ve kept things simple to give you amazing experiences at a great price.

As well as guided sightseeing of the key sites, there’s plenty of free time to explore independently or take part in optional excursions so you can focus on doing just the things that suit you. We’ve given you the flexibility to eat how you want too, by making most of the meals optional.

On your Essentials tour, you’ll be travelling the way the locals do to really get under the skin of your destination. Although we’ve kept costs down, these trips are far from slumming it, with accommodation spanning everything from dome tents to the occasional fancy hotel. Group sizes tend to be a little larger on our Essentials range to give you a social and fun travel experience with like-minded travellers.

A lot of our Essentials tours include a local payment. As well as keeping up front costs down for you, it means that even more of your money stays within the local area.

Guaranteed Departures

This tour is 100% guaranteed to depart with travellers.

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